Whiley and Burdekin clinch North East titles

MATCH REPORT

Jordanne Whiley (GBR)

Jordanne Whiley and Jamie Burdekin both made it two wins from two tournaments on the 2013 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour when they won Wednesday’s women’s and quad singles finals at the North East Tournament in Sunderland, Great Britain.

Their victories followed up their success at last week’s North West Challenge, Britain’s first tournament of the year on the 2013 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour, where they beat exactly the same opponents in the finals.

Meanwhile, Gordon Reid continued his title defence as he comfortably reached Thursday’s men’s single final, in which he will play world No. 1 ranked junior Alfie Hewett, who earned his place in his first ITF 2 Series singles final after a thrilling semifinal.

Whiley and Burdekin claim back-to-back titles

Whiley won her second North East title, following up her victory in 2009. The top seed won five games in a row to take the opening set off French second seed Christine Schoenn and wenton to wrap up a 62 75 victory, having also beaten Schoenn in straight sets last Friday to win the North West Challenge.

Meanwhile, Burdekin also secured his second win over South African world No. 7 Lucas Sithole in the space of a week as he, too, followed up his North West Challenge victory by defeating Sithole 75 60.

Whiley later paired up with fellow Briton Lauren Jones to win the women’s doubles title. Top seeds Jones and Whiley beat French second seeds Emile Chene and Schoenn 61 62 as Whiley also claimed her second doubles title in successive weeks and Jones clinched the first ITF 2 Series doubles title of her career.

Reid and Hewett reach men’s singles final

In the men’s singles semifinals, 15-year-old Hewett reached his first ITF 2 Series final just days after winning his first ITF 3 Series title at the North West Challenge.

Fourth seed Hewett repeated his win over Marc McCarroll in the final of the North West Challenge, but his task was much tougher this time as he dug deep to edge out second seed McCarroll 7-6(4) 16 76(5). Hewett will now play world No. 8 and top seed Reid in Thursday’s final after Reid beat third seed Alex Jewitt 60 61.

Hewett and Reid will face McCarroll and Kevin Simpson in the all-British men’s doubles final. Top seeds Hewett and Reid eased past Pim Palmen of the Netherlands and Britain’s Josh Steels 60 60 in their semi-final, while second seeds McCarroll and Simpson defeated fellow Britons Eddy Holt and Jewitt 64 60.